Essex · London and the South East
Little Common Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
Pre-purchase roof surveys in Little Common and the rest of Essex. We survey on any day of the week.
- Slates or tiles that have slipped or gone
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Standing water on a flat extension roof
How a pre-purchase roof survey works in Little Common
Tall, steep or hidden roofs are hard to judge from the street. The Premium Survey adds thermal imaging, plus a drone inspection where applicable, along with a same-day report. If airspace rules or the weather rule out a flight, we will say so and inspect from every other safe vantage point. Common reasons to book are signs of past leaks inside the loft and roof slopes that look uneven or sagging, across natural slate, chimney stacks and gutters and downpipes.
Some older homes in villages like Little Common are listed or sit in a conservation area. If so, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so check with the council before work starts. For a buyer or someone with a newly finished roof, it’s worth knowing which applies. England has around 10,000 conservation areas and about 500,000 listed buildings.
It is not only a list of defects. For each finding, it explains what it is, why it matters and what we’d recommend, so you can plan your next steps.
- Location
- Little Common (CM77)
- Region
- Essex
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- A written report with photos, by email
- When we survey
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Roof by roof
Clay and concrete tiles
Clay and concrete tiles commonly last 50 years or more. We check for slipped, cracked and missing tiles, along with odd replacement tiles that hint at earlier leaks.
Chimney stacks
Leaning stacks, loose pots and eroded mortar are common findings. We photograph them so you can raise them before exchange.
What a pre-purchase roof survey looks like in Little Common
If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Changes that affect a listed building’s special interest need listed building consent, and councils can also use Article 4 directions to control changes in conservation areas. Where the drone is part of the survey, we check the Drone Safety Map for restrictions before flying.
For landlords with property near Braintree station, a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Little Common is about 3 miles west of Braintree, in Essex. Whether the building in Little Common is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof. Little Common is one of the towns and villages in Essex we cover for pre-purchase roof surveys. Chelmsford is in our area too.
Postcode districts we cover here for pre-purchase roof surveys: CM77. If you are just outside Little Common, we cover Rayne (1 mile north-east), Great Notley (1 mile south-east), Row Green (2 miles south-east), Young's End (2 miles south-east) and Panfield (2 miles north). Further out, we also cover Chelmsford (9 miles south), Braintree (3 miles east), Maldon (12 miles south-east), Witham (7 miles south-east), Saffron Walden (15 miles north-west) and Halstead (8 miles north-east).
Near you in Little Common
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Tabor Academy, 47 The Street pub and Cuckoo Wood, among other places. The nearest railway station is Braintree station, roughly 2.4 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Tudor House Museum (Braintree) (2.7 miles north-east) and Braintree Community Hospital (1.7 miles north-east). Open spaces near Little Common include Phyllis Currie Nature Reserve.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Little Common
Shared roofs need a little more planning: access has to be agreed with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we will plan the visit with that in mind.
If the property is let, the agent or a tenant can let us in, at a time agreed beforehand. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which helps when tenants work during the week.
What we’re asked to look at in Little Common
Buildings put up or refurbished before 2000 may contain asbestos. It is often found in cement sheets, soffits and flue pipes. We do not carry out asbestos surveys, but we flag materials that might and suggest a specialist asbestos surveyor checks them before work starts.
Look out for signs like these:
- Sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes
- Old water stains in the roof space
- Patch repairs that may hide an ongoing problem
- Flashings that have lifted or split
For an older house near a landmark such as Church of All Saints, the roof’s history matters as much as its looks, and a survey brings the past repairs to light.
Before you book anyone
- Do they have a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID for drone work?
- How they’ll see the roof: from the ground, the loft, the roof or by drone
- What happens after the report arrives
- Their track record with similar roofs
Tips from our surveys
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. Our suggestions:
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Pass the findings to your conveyancer
- Check the lease for roof repair responsibilities
- Request records of any re-roofing
Your report arrives by email, with photos of what we found. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Findings are set out in plain English, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Look in the loft now and then, with care and a good torch. Watch for stains, damp timbers and chinks of daylight. Photos help if you later need a roofer or another survey.
Places near Little Common
Other services in Little Common
Should I look at the roof myself first?
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
Little Common questions
Will you come out to Little Common?
Yes, Little Common is on our map. A small place gets exactly the same survey as a big one, with the route planned beforehand.
Do you cover Little Common?
Yes, Little Common is within the area we cover. We cover the whole of London and South East England. Just ring 07833 053749 or email us and let us know about the property, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain does not normally stop a survey, and it can even help show where water is getting in. Heavy rain or strong wind can ground a drone and make the roof unsafe, so we’ll agree a new date if the weather is not suitable.
Do you use drones?
Where it’s applicable and safe, yes. We fly a sub-250g drone and we’re a CAA-registered drone operator (Flyer ID and Operator ID). Drone inspection is part of the Drone Roof Survey and the Premium Survey, where it applies.
What insurance do you have?
Our surveys are covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance. If you need details for a managing agent or a building owner, just ask.
When is the best time to have the roof checked when buying?
Book as soon as your offer is agreed. The report is most useful before exchange, because after that the roof is yours to deal with.
How do I book a survey in Little Common?
The quickest way is to ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email. Give us the address and a few details about the roof, and we will point you to the right survey. We survey on weekdays and at weekends.
How the survey works
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there is safe access, from inside the roof space too. In the loft, the signs we look for are staining, damp, daylight and sagging, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey usually takes an hour or two at a typical house, with time for the loft where it can be reached. In a small place like Little Common, access is usually the main thing to plan. Let us know about outbuildings, past repairs and any leaks you’ve noticed. Visits can be on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays.
- We help you pick the package that suits the property.
- A date is booked on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday.
- We inspect and photograph every part of the roof we can safely see.
- Standard and Premium surveys add the extra checks they include.
- We send the report with recommendations ranked by urgency, ready for you to discuss with the seller or agent.
Before the survey
- Have any paperwork from past roof work to hand
- Check the loft hatch can be reached
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Arrange a survey
We confirm the price for your roof before you book, so you know where you stand. Prices start from £150, including VAT. To book, call 07833 053749 or use the contact form.